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Frisco RoughRiders and Carnival Cruise Line host 'Kids Day' event for local youth

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 June 2015 04 June 2015

FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS AND CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE HOST ‘KIDS DAY’ EVENT FOR LOCAL YOUTH

Carnival Cruise Line, Texas’ number one cruise operator, and the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, hosted a special day of fun, food and baseball this weekend at Dr Pepper Ballpark for 500 children and their families from across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The second annual “Carnival Kids Day” was part of the cruise line’s multi-year partnership with the ‘Riders.

Carnival and the RoughRiders hosted kids from a number of local youth organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club, Captain Hope’s Kids, CASA of Collin County, CASA of Denton County, CASA of Tarrant County, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, City House, Inc., Frisco Family Services, Make-A-Wish North Texas and HopeKids North Texas, for an unforgettable day of fun.

During Sunday’s RoughRiders vs. the Tulsa Drillers game, children and their families participated in a variety of activities and took photos with RoughRiders players. In addition, every participant received complimentary game tickets and parking.

For this year’s Kids Day event, Carnival added its signature brand of fun with experiences that included:

– An inflatable batter’s box and small ball toss, providing kids the opportunity to work on their swing or practice their pitching technique
– An airbrush face painting booth and art station where youngsters could create their own souvenir drawstring backpack
– A photo booth that allowed fans the chance to pose for their own take-home baseball card
– A fun-filled inflatable obstacle course and an appearance by the RoughRiders’ mascots Deuce and Daisy
– A Cracker Jack stand offering free samples of the classic ballgame snack

“The second annual Carnival Kids Day was a big success and offered deserving children and their families an opportunity to enjoy a memorable day at the ballpark,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s chief marketing officer. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with the RoughRiders and give these kids and families an unforgettable day at the ballpark.”

As the Official Cruise Line of the Frisco RoughRiders, Carnival is hosting a number of fun activities throughout the 2015 season. At each game, fans enjoy two specially designed promotions. Every time a RoughRiders player hits a home run, fans hear the sound of the Carnival ship horn, fireworks launch from the iconic Carnival funnel in the outfield and celebratory graphics illuminate the LED signs around the stadium. Carnival is also matching monetary donations made by fans during the age-old Texas League tradition of "Passing the Boot" for the RoughRiders Foundation, team and individual players after each RoughRiders' home run.

The “Carnival Crush Inning” promotion started this weekend, giving lucky contestants the chance to the win a free Carnival cruise, based on when a ‘Riders player gets a hit during a designated “Crush Inning.” Fans can sign up for the promotion at the stadium or online before the game at RidersBaseball.com. The cruise line is also sponsoring the Carnival Getaway Grill featuring unlimited ballpark favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, bratwursts, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, and Dr Pepper products for one all-inclusive price.

Azamara announces major upgrades for its two ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 June 2015 03 June 2015

Azamara Club Cruises, the boutique line delivering an up-market experience at sea with unparalleled destination immersion on land, announced on June 3 that its two ships – Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest – will undergo “major upgrades” while in dry dock in early 2016, reinvigorating the onboard guest experience. The mid-size ships that accommodate up to 686 guests will be outfitted with new venues, public spaces and technologies to bring fresh services and amenities to guests. From bow to stern, there is no area on the line’s ships that will be untouched. The upgrades include all staterooms and suites, dining, spa and entertainment.

"We are best known for our Land Discoveries programs which have enabled us to boast an unprecedented number of repeat guest bookings as well as strong back to back voyage reservations. As we continue to evolve our destination immersive offerings, we also want to ensure our onboard experience is modernized to meet guests’ every need," says Larry Pimentel, President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. "We can’t wait for our ships to come out of dry dock as these major upgrades are going to have an instant impact on our guests’ experience. Each corner of the ships will have a new look and feel, setting a brighter, more contemporary ambiance, while the new venues will bring guests fresh experiences. We’re also investing in new onboard innovations and have paid close attention to the smallest of details. We really are redefining our onboard experience in every way."

The Azamara Journey will enter dry dock in January 2016 in the Bahamas, and the Azamara Quest in April 2016 in Singapore.

46th MedCruise General Assembly to discuss issues specific to the region

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 June 2015 03 June 2015

Croatian port of Zadar is currently hosting the 46th MedCruise General Assembly. Alan Lam reports.

At the commencement press conference, Carla Salvadó, in her capacity as the incumbent president of the organisation, told the invited international press that she was delighted to welcome over 115 delegates and eight cruise line executives to the gathering. This was her first assembly since assuming the role as the president.

The forum in the next three days will address and discuss multifarious issues concerning the cruise business in the Adriatic, the challenges it faces.

“What is most important is how to promote the region,” said Carla Salvadó. “We have seen in the last ten years incredible growth in the Med. At present we are quite flat. Now is the time to promote, to discuss challenges, environmental issues, and how to increase cooperation between all the member ports. We know now that we have to collaborate with the cities and attractions because cruise is a new type of tourism they must be informed about. They need to be aware of the idiosyncrasies of cruise tourism and learn how to promote it.”

“At each assembly we focus on different regions,” Thanos Pallis, Secretary General, MedCruise, told the press. “We hope the discussions will help bringing more cruise activities to Zadar.”

During the Q&A session, in response to a specific question put by Cruise Business Review correspondent concerning the specific objective of the current assembly assembly, Carla Salvadó said that it would be to discuss challenges facing the region, chiefly among them the issue concerning Venice.

Two Cruise Business Review correspondents are in attendance in Zadar and will be reporting live in the coming days.

Crystal to celebrate 25th anniversary with special Chairman's cruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 June 2015 03 June 2015

Crystal Cruises is offering intrepid travelers the ultimate Northern European escape with its July 8 voyage through the North Cape and Arctic Circle. Crystal Cruises’ 18-day itinerary from Reykjavík to London/Dover is packed with wish list-worthy experiences – in Norway’s ancient caves, behind the scenes of the Russian Gulag, on Iceland’s whale feeding grounds and under the midnight sun – and destinations including new calls along Russia’s White Sea and Norway’s spectacular fjords.

Enhancing the new adventures ashore, the voyage – hosted by new Crystal Chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay aboard Crystal Symphony – will feature special receptions and celebrations on board in commemoration of the line’s 25th Anniversary, as well as the recent announcement of Crystal’s expansion under the new ownership of Genting Hong Kong (GHK). In addition, Crystal’s President and CEO Edie Rodriguez will join for a section of the itinerary to formally introduce Chairman Thay to Crystal’s beloved guests as well as participate and attend the special festivities.

“This itinerary offers in-depth and immersive experiences in some of the world’s famously remote and most breathtaking locales, with new opportunities and destinations for even the most seasoned travelers,” says Rodriguez. “We are thrilled that our newly-appointed chairman will experience a Crystal voyage that perfectly blends the inherently rugged and far-away adventure of such destinations with unmatched luxury at sea.”

With overnights in Reykjavík, Iceland and Leknes, Norway, maiden visits to Solovetsky and Zayatsky Islands, Russian Federation and Narvik, Bodø and Øye/Hjørundfjord, Norway; and stops in Murmansk, Russia and Geiranger and Bergen, Norway; and Akureyri, Iceland, plus cruising through Honningsvåg, North Cape, the voyage affords ample opportunity for adventurous and fascinating cultural pursuits ashore. Among the more than three dozen brand new Crystal Adventures are:

– Spying blue fin, humpback, minke and sei whales in their feeding grounds on Iceland’s Eyjafjordur Fjord (from Akureyri); and beluga whales along the White Sea Coast (from Zayatsky Islands);

– Exploring Russia’s original Gulag prison camp, UNESCO-designated Solovetsky Monastery, that set the tone for the Kremlin’s prison system, plus the rustic beauty of the Holy Lake and Prosperity Bay (from Solovetsky);

– Midnight horseback riding on the beach or golfing at the seaside Lofoten Golf Links, both illuminated by the Arctic sun in Leknes;

– Close encounters with the wild brown bears, wolves, polar foxes, reindeer and moose that reside at the world’s northernmost zoo, Narvik’s Polar Park;

– Pivotal World War II sites including Narvik’s battleground between the Germans and Allies and War Memoriam Museum, plus Murmansk’s impressive wartime fleets and the cemetery dedicated to the Allied soldiers who brought Arctic convoys to Russia’s shores;

– Rugged Norwegian mountain biking adventures, one from 3,000 above sea level down to UNESCO World Heritage Site Geirangerfjord, another along the “roof of Bergen,” Mt. Fløyen, where the terrain offers spectacular views.

Crystal’s all-inclusive luxury voyages start at $1,485 per person if booked by the June 30 “Book Now” deadline.

New Chief Legal Officer joins MSC Cruises' global management team

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 June 2015 01 June 2015

MSC Cruises S.A., the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line, announced today that Massimiliano Mio has joined the company’s executive leadership at its global headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland, as the new Chief Legal Officer (CLO), effective today.

Mio has worked in international shipping law for 20 years, covering claims and disputes handling, insurance and liability issues, corporate legal affairs and various other maritime matters. He will report to Chief Executive Officer, Gianni Onorato.

Onorato said: "Having grown by 800 percent in the first 10 years alone, MSC Cruises is poised for a further dramatic expansion through a $5.4 billion plan to double our current fleet capacity by 2022, which includes seven ultra-modern ships in two pioneering prototypes."

"Massimiliano’s specialized expertise in maritime and shipping law will be a valuable addition to the growing portfolio of skills and knowledge embodied by our further strengthened senior executive team. With the right people at the top we can forge ahead with confidence as the Company evolves and continues to provide distinct, unforgettable cruise experiences around the world."

Mio served most recently as General Counsel for RINA S.p.A, the global provider of certification, testing, inspection and engineering consulting services in multiple sectors, including marine, transport and the environment. While at RINA, Mio led legal teams through numerous complex lawsuits, and piloted a project to restructure RINA’s insurance program.

Mio is the fourth new C-level appointment by MSC Cruises in 2015, following the arrivals of a new Chief Communications Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer.